The revitalization of David Geffen Hall is centered around a deep focus on welcoming audiences, both new and existing, to the Lincoln Center campus at-large. From the light and inviting Welcome Center and Karen and Richard LeFrak Lobby, to the airy and open Leon and Norma Hess Grand Promenade, and the innovative Kenneth C. Griffin Sidewalk Studio—allowing passersby to catch a glimpse of performances from outside the building—the public spaces welcome all visitors to engage and enjoy throughout the day. 

Completed two years early with a transformative design by Diamond Schmitt Architects and Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, the renovation represents a statement of faith in New York and its artistic community, while delivering jobs and economic development at a crucial time for the city’s rebound.

The project reimagines the entire concert-going experience, creating a new state-of-the-art theater, the Wu Tsai Theater, serving as the home of the New York Philharmonic and accommodating a diverse range of artists and audiences. The new David Geffen Hall features improved accessibility throughout. At the same time, thousands of square feet of new public space for diverse cultural performance and community uses has been created—much of it free to the public. The reimagined space has achieved all this while respecting the iconic exterior.